Don’t Buy These 4 Myths About Dental Implants
Despite being one of the most tried-and-true cosmetic dentistry procedures out there, dental implants are often misunderstood. The fear created by that misunderstanding could stop people from getting the implants that could benefit both their oral health and the aesthetic of their smile. Have you bought into these myths about dental implants?
Getting Implants Will Hurt
A staggering 75% of Americans are estimated to experience fear of the dentist, and undoubtedly this percentage goes way up for procedures more complex than a cleaning. This is mostly because people are afraid their dentist will cause them pain — a misconception often born of an outdated understanding of dentistry and decades of sensationalizing movies and media. (Little Shop of Horrors, anyone?)
In reality, modern dentists have become very effective at preventing and managing pain. Local anesthesia will prevent you from feeling any pain during the actual implantation, and the discomfort you feel during the healing process will be short-lived. Your dentist will provide painkillers and advice for managing that process, too. Sedation dentistry can even help you overcome your anxiety about seeing the dentist.
Dental Implants Will Look Fake
It’s unsurprising that we tend to assume fake teeth will be obvious, considering how much of our slapstick comedy is centered around false teeth. The use of the phrase “titanium dental implant” may also confuse people into thinking that your implants will have visible metal.
Actually, the titanium part of their name refers to the “root” of the implant, which is inside your gum. The visible part of the implant is called the crown, and it will be made from advanced ceramic that your dentist will custom tint and shape to match your real teeth.Your implant will be a perfect replacement for its predecessor, and nobody will ever have to know.
Implants Are High Maintenance
If you think taking care of a dental implant will be challenging, think again. Caring for your dental implant is just like caring for a real tooth: Just brush twice a day, floss daily, and see your dentist for regular checkups and cleanings.
And your diet and habits don’t have to change, either. Your implant will be just as strong as a real tooth, so you can keep chewing and doing all the same things you were doing before. Basically, once the procedure is completed and your healing period is over, you can practically forget you have a dental implant at all — it’s just like having your real tooth back.
I Don’t Need Implants
If you think a dental implant’s only purpose is aesthetic, it’s understandable that you might pass up on a potentially expensive, complicated procedure and just live with the gap. But the truth is, a missing tooth hurts more than your smile.
Your other teeth can grow weak and shift when their neighbor goes missing. Shifting teeth can impact your bite and increase your risk of TMJ, and tooth loss-related difficulty with oral hygiene can even cause a domino effect that will make you lose more teeth.
If you’re missing teeth in Tulsa, dental implants are a reliable, effective solution. Call (918) 528-3330 or contact us online to make an appointment with implant dentist Dr. Meghan Hodges and learn more about your options.
élan Tulsa Cosmetic Dentistry
10031 S Yale Ave #104
Tulsa, OK 74137